Adlai E. Stevenson III, a former US Senator, has lived, studied and worked for more than 65 years in more than 80 countries. He serves in numerous business and public policy related capacities, including Chairman of SC&M Investment Management Company, founder and a Director of Hua Mei Capital Company( the first Sino US financial intermediary), Chairman of the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy and Chairman of the Midwest US China Association. He is author of The Black Book which records American politics and history as his family knew it over five generations of active engagement starting with Lincoln in central Illinois.

Stevenson is a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean war, former Clerk to a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and former Partner in the law firm of Mayer, Brown. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives 1965-67, winning a Best Legislator award from the Independent Voters of Illinois, and as Illinois State Treasurer, 1967-70, where he quadrupled earnings on the investment of State funds while cutting the budget each year. In 1970, he was elected to the balance of deceased Senator Everett Dirksen's term in the U.S. Senate and was re elected in 1974, both times by record breaking margins. He retired from the Senate in 1981. He was the Democratic candidate for Governor of Illinois in 1982 and 1986.

In the Senate, Stevenson served on the Commerce Committee (Chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space), Banking Committee (Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Finance) and Intelligence Committee (Chairman, Subcommittee on the Collection and Production of Intelligence). A reformer, he served as the first Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and Chairman of a Special Committee which led the first major reorganization of the Senate since its Committee system was formed in the early 19th Century. He also served on the Senate Majority's Policy Committee.

In the Senate, Stevenson co authored the energy legislation of the mid 1970's as Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oil and Gas Production, including legislation to establish the Department of Energy, fuel efficiency standards, emergency natural gas pricing and projects for development of alternative energy sources. To promote economic competitiveness, he authored the Stevenson Wydler Technology Innovation Act and companion "Bayh Dole" Act which together spurred cooperative research and the technological innovation which followed in the 90's. Among others, he authored the International Banking Act to establish "national treatment" for foreign banks in the U.S., the Export Trading Company Act to encourage the creation of US trading companies, legislation to liberalize export controls and deregulate transportation, as well as over seeing NASA and development of the US space program.

Stevenson's experience in the Middle East led him to conduct the first Congressional in depth studies of terrorism, introducing the Comprehensive Anti Terrorism Act of 1979 with predictions of "spectacular acts of destruction and disruption" and an "an international terrorist scene." He authored the Arab Anti Boycott Act which made it unlawful for US companies to participate in the Arab boycott of Israel, but an attempt to distance the US from the settlements policy of the Likkud government of Israel led to his defeat in the 1982 election for Governor of Illinois. Though the election was virtually tied, and evidence of widespread election irregularities, including a failed punch card system for recording votes, was presented to the Illinois Supreme Court, it denied his request for a recount by one vote. He was renominated by the Democratic Party for Governor in 1986, but candidates of the LaRouche cult were nominated for Lt. Governor and Secretary of State, forcing him to resign the nomination and run as a third Party candidate. He won 40% of the vote.

Since living in London, 1945-6, where he attended Harrow School, Stevenson has traveled, worked and served in many capacities in many countries and regions. In and out of government his career has focused on international issues, especially in finance and East Asia, including development of an East Asian monetary regime which he sees as part of the foundation for a global monetary regime grounded on the International Monetary Fund but reflecting the shift of economic resources to the East. He is a past President of the US Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, former Co Chairman of the East Asia Financial Markets Development Project, Former President and Chairman of the Japan America Society of Chicago, former Chairman of the Midwest US Japan Association, a Member of the US Korea Wisemen Council, Member of the Advisory Board of the Korea Economic Institute and Member of the US Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific.

Stevenson has lectured widely, authored numerous articles and is the recipient of many honors, including Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure with Gold and Silver Star. He is an Honorary Professor of Renmin University, Beijing, PRC.

Stevenson manages a farm near Galena, Illinois and maintains an office and home in Chicago. He is a graduate of Harvard College, '52 and Harvard Law School, '57. He and his wife, Nancy, have two sons, two daughters and five grandchildren.